UK: HMS Grimsby Completes Six Month Support Docking Period

Sandown class minehunter HMS Grimsby left Babcock’s Rosyth dockyard on Friday (30 November) with enhanced operational capability following a successful six month Support Period (Docking) (SP(D)). This was the first Sandown class refit to be undertaken under the Surface Ship Support Alliance (SSSA) Class Output Management (COM) Phase 2 arrangements, under which Babcock leads the Sandown class COM team.

HMS Grimsby has received a number of upgrades and improvements, significantly enhancing the ship’s operational capability, sustainability and habitability standards, during the tightly scheduled support period. These include a first-of-class replacement of the entire fire detection system; an upgraded high pressure air system (extending system life and offering cost and space benefits); the Defence Information Infrastructure (DII) which provides a coherent infrastructure to enable information sharing and collaborative working across the defence sector network; the Centrix communications system; a fresh water embarkation unit (monitoring purification of shore supplied water); a package to enhance operations in hot climates; and a galley upgrade package.

These enhancements have been in addition to a substantial maintenance package, in which the vessel’s sustainability in extreme climates has been improved by an extensive renewal programme of protective coatings on the hull and weather decks, and considerable work has been undertaken to the air conditioning system, as well as removal and overhaul of the bow thruster units.

HMS Grimsby has left the Rosyth yard for sea trials before returning to the Fleet in 2013.

Maritime Reconnaissance and Surveillance Technology 2017

After last year’s huge success the SMi Group is proud to announce the 2nd Maritime Reconnaissance and Surveillance Technology. The event will be held in Rome on the 30th and 31st of January 2017.

Based on the success of the 2016 conference, we aim to replicate and improve by providing a more regional focus, not just on the Mediterranean, but other areas of interest including the Black Sea and further beyond in the Asia Pacific region. All of which have keen collective interest on ensuring the safety and security of legitimate maritime activities.

This high level meeting will bring together senior military leadership, project decision makers, technical experts and cutting edge industry solution providers to explore future endeavours that will enhance the security and stability of the world’s oceans.

The 2017 programme will:

Provide a wider regional focus outside of the Mediterranean where challenges are also persistent

Feature high ranking military personnel involved with the enhancement of maritime surveillance platforms and systems

Present a running theme on the importance of information sharing as operations are increasingly conducted at an international level

Include Informal networking time to talk to peers and colleagues also shaping and influencing Maritime ISR programs today

Allow learning on how other nations are developing their maritime surveillance and reconnaissance provision from past experience and cutting edge research and development

Get to the heart of challenges faced by modern maritime forces such as capability gaps and what requirements they now have